Distributor and timer combined for internal-combustion engines



June 30, 1925. I 1,544,043

I C. L. SHOBE DISTRIBUTOR AND TIMER COMBINED FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug- 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Ehes'ler L. Shnhe W M 7 61cm mp June 30, 1925.

1,544,043 C. L. SHOBE DISTRIBUTOR AND TIMER COMBINED FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

jg. E.

Patented June 30, 1925.

umree STATES F l C E PATENTLOF CHESTER L. SHOBE, 0F PERU, KANSAS.

Application filed August, 15, 1922. Serial No. 582,023,

To all whom z'tmay concern 7 Be it known that 1, Gimme L, SHOBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peru, in the county of Chautauqua and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Distributors and Timers Combined for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to timers and dis tributors for internal combustion engines and the primary object of the invention is to provide a combined distributor and timer which is arranged as to form a unitary mechanism, in which a single rotating element is utilized for making and breaking the contacts between the primary and secondary circuits, thereby effectively decreasing the complexity of timer-distributors and eliminating a number of parts now utilized in the ordinary timer-distributor forms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combined timer-distributor, in which the rotor for the distributor is utilized for the timer for making and breaking the timer contacts, the improved construction forming a positive means for making and breaking the primary circuit and dispensing with the necessity of utilizingiplatinum points, in the timing mechanism, the improved timing mechanism eliminating sparking between the contact points. i A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism for making and breaking the primary circuit, the rotor carrying an improved contact point for engaging the stationar contact, points of the timer, the means or mounting the movable contact. point on the rotor permitting a quick contact to be hard between the movable con tact and the stationary contacts, the means for mounting the movable contact on the rotor including a substantially annular shaped split spring, which permits the movable contact to give for engagingthe stationary contacts and then spring past the same with a quick action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined timer-distributor embodying a single housing including the stationary plate through which the timer-dis tributor shaft extends and a non-electric conducting shell for receiving said shaft, the shell carrying the contacts for the primary circuit and the contacts for the secondary circuit in which the spark plugs are mthe above character, which will be durable and efiic-ient. in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction,

arrangement and formation of parts, as will.

be hereinafter more specifical y described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifica tion, inwhich drawings Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the improved timer-distributor taken on the line 11 of Figure 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the improved timer-distributor taken on'lthe line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section through the rotor for the timer-distributor taken onthe line 3-3 of Figure 2, the view illustrating the novel means for connecting the rotor on the operating shaft.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views the letter A generally indicates the improved, combined timer-distributor, which includes the housing B which receives the timer shaft (1. l i

The housing B includes a disc shaped lower wall or bed plate 5, the axial center of which carries the depending sleeve 6 for the reception of the timer shaft C. This sleeve 6 is of course secured in any preferred manner'to the casing or hearing 7 for the said shaft The upper face of the bottom Wall or bed plate 5 1s provided adjacent and in spaced relation to the periphery" thereof with an upstanding flan e 8 which forms in connection with: thesai wall 5 and a seat '9 for the reception of the shell 10 of the said housing B. This shell 1 0 is forme'dof insulating materiahsuch as hard rubber, fiber or the like and includes the annular side wall 11 and a dome shaped top wall12. The top Wall 12 at its axial center is vided with a sleeve 13 for supporting the central or high tension terminal from the secondary coil as indicated by the reference character 1st and this terminal supports the depending central contact 15. Disposed in annular formation about the top wall 12 are the sleeves 16 which support the terminals for the wires, indicated by the reference character 17 and leading to the spark plugs 18 indicated diagrammatically in Figure 2 of the drawings. These sleeves of course support the depending inwardly extending contacts 19. It is to be understood of course that there are as many contacts 19 as there are spark plugs required and in the form shown the timerdistributor is for a four cylinder engine and. thus there are four of the contacts 19. which are arranged at quarters in the housing.

The timer shaft C is driven from the engine in any preferred manner and extends axially within the shell or housingB through the sleeve 6 and has its upper end provided with a polygonal extension 20 which sup ports the rotor D for the timer-distributor. The intensity of the spark may be advanced or retarded in the ordinary manner by an arm or a lever (not shown) attached to the breaker housing. Directly below the polygonal extension 20 of the shaft C a collar 21 is fitted thereon for engaging the bottom wall 5 to prevent displacement of the shaft from out of the shell.

The rotor D comprises a hub 25 formed of insulating material and the hub at its axial center is provided with a polygonal opening 26 for the reception of the polygonal end 20 of the shaft C. The upper end of the hub 25 has formed integral therewith a radially extending arm 27 which constitutes the means for carrying the rotatable contact 28 for the distributor. Disposed at the opposite side of the hub 26 is the rotatable contact 29 for the timer mechanism and this contact 29 is disposed at an angle of substantially 20 to the radial line which bi-sects the arm 27. This arrangement is so made as to permit the correct operation of the timer and distributor mechanism. The hub 25 at one side of the polygonal opening 26 is provided with a. pocket 30 which communicates with said polygonal opening and in this pocket is adapted to be positioned a leaf spring 31 which bears against the shaft 20 and forms a ground for the contact 29, as will be hereinafter more fully described. It can be seen however that the spring 31 is provided with an attaching portion 32 which is anchored in the hub adjacent to the periphery thereof.

The arm 27 has secured thereto as at 33 a suitable strip of conducting material 34 the outer end of which is provided with a head 35, that is adapted to engage or contact with the stationary contacts 19 carried by the shell 10 for distributing the current to the spark plugs. The inner end of this strip 3 1 is provided with a resilient extension 36 which is adapted to contact at all times with the central contact 15 carried by the shell.

The movable contact 29 for the timer is supported by an annular shaped split spring 37 which is secured to the hub for contact with attaching base of the spring 31 by suitable screw 38. The spring 37 diametrically opposite the screw 38 has anchored therein in any preferred manner a screw 39 on which is threaded the movable contact 29 and this contact is held in any preferred adjusted position on the screw 39 by means of a nut 10. It is obvious that as wear takes place on the timer contacts that the contact 29 can be adjusted on the screw. This contact 29 has an arcuate outer face 41 and is in the nature of a shoe to form a wiping contact with the stationary contacts 12.

The contacts 12 are arranged at quarters on the side wall 11 of the shell 10. These contacts 42 are disposed intermediate the contacts 1!) of the secondary circuit. The stationary contacts 12 are held in position on the side wall 11 of the shell 10 by means of suitable stems 13 which are extended through openings 11 in the side wall and these stems have threaded thereon suitable retaining nuts 15. One of the stems -1 forms a binding post for the wire it; which leads from the primary winding of the coil unit 17. It can be seen that in operation the shoe or movable contact 29 will engage one of the contacts l2 and the spring 37 will give to such extent that as the shoe rides past the stationary contact. the spring will quickly move the shoe from out of cng went with the stationary contact thus in iug a quick conta t which is so desirable in timing meclninisms.

Referring to Figure 2 f the ilravring'is in which shown the circuit diagrauiniatically for the improved timer-distribntor il can be seen that a wire in is connected with a feed wire 4:9 leading from a suitable source of electrical energy such as a storage bat tery and this wire 18 is connected to one terminal 51 of the primary coil of the inductance coil unit 4-7. The wire to heretobcforc nientiontal. which is cmincctcd with one stationary contact -12 is connected with the other primary terminal 52 of the. coil 47. The wire 18 can have interposed there in a suitable resistance unit, .3 is so dcsircd. suitable control switch 51- can also be in terposcd in this wire if so desired. It is to be also noted at this point that all of the stationary contacts 42 of the timing mcchanism are electrically connected together by an annular conducting strip i2f This strip can be imbedded within the side wall 11 of the shell 10 as clearly shown in Fig ures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The othe R ll terminal of the battery 50 is grounded to the body of the vehicle as indicated by the reference character 55. The wire 48 is also connected, as in the usual construction, with the generator 56 which also has its opposite terminal grounded as at 57. The wire 48 intermediate the battery and generator has incorporated therein the usual regulator or automatic cut out 58. A Wire 59 is electrically connected with a central terminal 14 of the distributor and is connected as at (it) with one terminal of the secondary wind ing. The other terminal of the secondary winding is grounded as indicated by the reference character 61. The distributing contacts 1!) are connected as heretobeforc stated by wires 17 with one terminal of the spark plug indicated by the reference character 1,8. The other terminal of the spark plugs are grounded of course to the engine in the ordinary manner as indicated by the reference character 62.

In operation of the improved timer-distributor it can be seen that when the primary contacts 29 and 42 are separated a high voltage current is introduced in the secondary winding of the coil 47 which blows in the center contact of the distributor and is collected by the contact strip 311 and distributed to the contacts 19 from whence it jumps the gaps of the spark plug 18. It is of course to be understood that the plugs are tired in proper sequence by the contacting of the brush or strip 34 with the contacts 19.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that an improved timer and distributor has been provided, which is of exceptionally simple and durable structure and which eliminates a number of parts generally employed in ti iuer-distributor forms and which permits the positive operation of the timing and distributing mechanism.

(hanges in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention but what I claim as new is:

1. In a combined timer and distributor, a shell including a base plate, a cap formed of insulating material fitted upon the base plate, a timer shaft extending into the shell through said base plate, a rotor formed of insulating material secured to said shaft and arranged in said shell, a. plurality of primary contacts anchored to the cap and arranged in annular formation, an annular strip of conducting material anchored in said shell and connected with said primary contacts, a contacting shoe arranged to engage the primary contacts, a resilient ring connetting the shoe to the rotor, means electrically connecting the contacting shoe with the shaft, a radially extending arm formed of insulating material carried by the rotor disposed opposite to the contact shoe and arranged at an angle of substantially to the radius line of the contact shoe, a plurality of secondary contacts connected, with the spark plugs of an engine to be controlled, arranged in annular formation and carried by said shaft and disposed at quarters thereon and arranged intermediate the primary contacts, a central. contact carried by the shoe, a resilient strip carried by the arm engaging the central contact, and a wiper head connected with said conducting strip for engaging the secondary contacts.

2. In a rotor, a hub formed of insulating material and having a socket for receiving a timer shaft, a contact shoe, a resilient carrier of conducting material for said shoe, a spring element of conducting material carried by said hub and positioned for engaging a timer shaft extending into the socket and frictionally holding the hub upon the shaft, and means for securing the carrier and spring element to the hub in contacting engagement with each other.

3. In a rotor, a hub formed of insulating material having a socket formed therein, for the reception of a timer shaft, a pocket formed in said hub communicating with said socket, a contact spring anchored in the hub and fitted in said pocket for engaging said shaft, a conta t shoe having a threaded socket therein, a spring secured to the hub and connected with said contact spring, a screw anchored to said spring and arranged to it in said socket of said shoe to permit the shoe to be adjusted to different positions in relation to the hub, and a nut threaded upon said screw for holding the shoe in an adjusted position on said screw.

4. In a rotor, a hub formed of insulating material having a socket formed therein for the reception of a timer shaft, a pocket formed in said hub communicating with said socket, a contact spring anchored in the hub and fitted in said pocket for engaging said shaft, a contact shoe, a resilient ring carrying the contact shoe, and a fastener securing said ring to said hub in engagement with the contact spring.

CHESTER L SHOBE. 

